RISK FACTORS OF BREAST CANCER AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN SULAIMANI GOVERNORATE: A HOSPITALBASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Volume 13 , Issue 4 , July 2025 , Pages 463-473

Authors

Tavan Taha Hama Saeed 1 ; Mezjda Ismail Rashaan 2 ; Nizar Mohamed Tawfeeq Hamawandi 2 ; Hawar Hassan Ali Naqshbandi 2

1 Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

2 Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

DOI logo 10.17656/jsmc.10441

Keywords

Abstract

Background
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women throughout the world. Although uncommon,
breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women.
Objective
To assess risk factors among young Kurdish women ≤ 40 in Sulaimani governorate.
Materials and Methods
A hospital-based, retrospective case-control study was conducted in two selected Sulaimani Hospitals, Hiwa
Cancer Hospital and Breast Diseases Center, from January 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2021. Eligible cases
included those women ≤ 40 years of age, Kurdish nationality, histopathologically confi rmed breast cancer, and
random selection of a control group with no evidence of breast cancer of matched age. Data on reproductive
characteristics were collected through a standardized questionnaire for both cases and controls.
Results
The participants’ mean age was 32.23 years (SD ±3.98) and 34.55 years (SD ±5.99) for cases and controls,
respectively. The results of multinomial logistic regression revealed that menarche at 12-14 years of age (OR=
2.33, 95% CI:1.41 - 3.86), low level of education (OR primary= 2.16, 95% CI:1.32 - 3.53), living in urban areas
(OR= 2.75, 95% CI:1.87 - 4.05), unemployment (OR= 2.73, 95% CI:1.34 - 5.53), nulliparity (OR= 1.76, 95%
CI:1.1 - 2.83), physical inactivity (OR nil= 5.03, 95% CI:1.09 - 23.3), and some dietary items as (red meat,
chicken meat, fi sh meat) increased the odds of developing BC.
Conclusion
Nulliparity, early age at menarche, physical inactivity, and dietary patterns should be given priority during the
assessment of breast cancer risk among young Kurdish-Iraqi women.

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  • First online26 July 2025
  • Published at26 July 2025

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